*This content was translated by AI.
San Francisco Giants Lee Jung-hoo (28) will move to right field, not center field, in the 2026 season. This is because Harrison Bader (32), a former Gold Glove outfielder, joined. The leadership of the club also gave deep trust to Lee Jung-hoo's attitude, who readily nodded for the team despite the sudden proposal to change his position.
Buster Posey (39), president of the San Francisco baseball division, unveiled a conversation with Lee Jung-hoo about changing his defensive position in a video interview with a group of San Francisco reporters, including NBC Sports Bay Arena, on the 31st (Korea time).
Posey said, "Lee Jung-hoo showed a very good attitude. Through conversation, Lee Jung-hoo and our club also understood each other that there is a possibility of playing center field. Lee Jung-hoo also showed willingness to accept the news in conversations with general manager Jack Minasian and manager Tony Bytello.
San Francisco officially announced the signing of Bader on the 31st. According to local media such as the Major League's official website MLB.com and The Athletic, Bader's contract period is two years and is subject to a total of USD 20.5 million (about KRW 29.7 billion). In the end, it seems that it is trying to strengthen its defense in the outfield, which was the most urgent problem in the offseason.
San Francisco's outfield defense, in which Lee Jung-hoo played center field in the 2025 season, was criticized as the lowest in the Major League. In particular, Lee Jung-hoo and left fielder Eliot Ramos (27) were cited as the main culprits. According to The Athletic, the combined OAA (Outs Above Average, a defensive indicator of how many outcounts are captured than the league average) recorded by Lee Jung-hoo and Ramos in the 2025 season reached -14. In particular, Lee Jung-hoo left an indicator of OAA-5, DRS (Defensive Run Saved) of -18, an indicator of how many points defenders blocked.
In the end, the club decided to ease the burden of defense by moving Lee Jung-hoo to right field. Posey was also confident that Lee Jung-hoo could become the top right fielder in the Major League. General manager Minasian also said, "We thoroughly looked at Lee Jung-hoo's batting judgment, path setting, and throwing ability. As a result of analyzing the data, it was confirmed that Lee Jung-hoo is superior to other right field in the Major League. He added, "I'm sure he'll perform well."
In the U.S., Lee Jung-hoo's move to right field will lead to maximum attack power. Among the right fielders who played more than 400 at-bats in the 2025 season, Lee Jung-hoo ranked first in the minimum strikeout rate, fifth in the batting average, and tied for sixth in scoring. This is because Lee Jung-hoo relieved the pressure on the defensive range, creating an environment where he could focus more on his natural long-term sophisticated hitting and on-base ability.
If Bader boasts an iron wall defense in center field and Lee Jung-hoo shows a solid defense and sharp hitting in right field, San Francisco's outfield is expected to be upgraded to the highest level in the league in both offense and defense.
Lee Jung-hoo is taking on a new challenge with dedication to his team. Fans are excited about whether Lee, who turned into a right fielder, will be able to become the new star of Oracle Park in the 2026 season.
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*This content was translated by AI.
